(2011-12-12) The Active Directory Web Service (ADWS)

Windows Server 2008 R2 (W2K8R2) introduces a new service called the “Active Directory Web Service (ADWS)” to support remote management of running directory services through the WS-* protocols. The AD PowerShell Module (also see: Active Directory Administration with Windows PowerShell and Active Directory Powershell Blog) and the Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC) are components that require the usage of ADWS. The ADWS is installed automatically when either promoting a W2K8R2 server to a DC (both RWDC and RODC) or installing the first ADLDS instance on a W2K8R2 server. It also supports directory services instances loaded with DSAMAIN (only when on W2K8R2 and not on W2K8!). To find a W2K8R2 DC/server with the ADWS installed DC locator uses a special flag called “DS_WEB_SERVICE_REQUIRED”. The server where the AD PowerShell Modules are being executed or where the ADAC has been started communicates with the DC/server with the ADWS installed over TCP:9389.

Of course it is possible to have the RSAT installed on Win7 workstation or W2K8R2 member server while your AD infrastructure is still running on W2K3 or W2K8. To support both scenarios Microsoft released an out-of-band version of the ADWS which can be downloaded from here.

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To install the out-of-band version of the ADWS on W2K3 you must meet the following requirements:

7 Responses to “(2011-12-12) The Active Directory Web Service (ADWS)”

Checked it out earlier this year and was hoping to find a way of talking to it but it seems it requires an advanced client like the one for FIM does… When are Microsoft going to learn that REST web services is the shit?